James: A Handbook on Holiness

The Range of Trials: Poverty & Riches

James 1:9-11

General outline of chapter 1:

1. The Way to Holiness: The Divine Perspective 1:2-27

   1. The Trial-Temptation Complex 1:2-18

      1. The Confrontation with Trials 1:2-8

         1. Joy and Trials 1:2-4

         2. Wisdom and Trials 1:5-8

      2. The Range of Trials 1:9-11

         1. The Trial of Poverty 1:9

         2. The Trial of Riches 1:10-11

      3. The Outcome of Trials 1:12-18

         1. Confidence in Trials 1:12

         2. Defeat in Trials 1:13-15

         3. Victory in Trials 1:16-18

James 1:9-11

The Trial of Poverty

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,

The Trial of Riches

10 and the rich in his lowliness,

Reason

because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.

11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Psalm 49.

2. V. 9: In what ways is poverty a trial? Prov. 10:15; 14:20

3. V. 9: In what ways can a "lowly brother" be exalted? Prov. 28:6, 11; 2 Cor. 6:10; 8:9; James 2:5

4. V. 10: In what ways is being rich a trial? Prov. 13:8

5. v. 10: In what ways can a rich brother be lowly? Matt. 6:33; Rev. 3:17

6. V. 11: How does a flower of the grass "pass away?" How long does it take a little flower to die?

7. V. 11: In what ways can a rich man "fade away" in the midst of his pursuits?

8. What kinds of boasting are godly? Ps. 34:2; Jer. 9:23-24; 1 Cor. 1:26-31; 2 Cor. 5:12; 11:30; 12:9

9. What is the point of the passage--what should both the rich and the poor do? Prov. 22:2